Acta Scientiarum
http://www.uem.br/acta
ISSN printed: 1679-9275
ISSN on-line: 1807-8621
Doi: 10.4025/actasciagron.v34i2.13120
The mortality of Caryocar brasiliense in northern Minas Gerais State,
Brazil
Germano Leão Demolin Leite1*, Aline Fonseca do Nascimento1, Sergio Monteze Alves1, Paulo
Sérgio Nascimento Lopes1, Nilza de Lima Pereira Sales1 and José Cola Zanuncio2
1
Insetário George Washington Gomez de Moraes, Laboratório de Entomologia, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal de Minas
Gerais, Av. Universitária, 1000, 39404-006, Cx Postal 135, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 2Departamento de Biologia Animal, Universidade
Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. *Author for correspondence. E-mail: gldleite@ig.com.br
ABSTRACT. The purpose of this work was to study the percentage of healthy trees, living trees and
healthy branches and the renewal (natural propagation) of Caryocar brasiliense associated with the properties
of soil, the floristic diversity and the canopy size of this plant. Lower proportions of live C. brasiliense trees
and of healthy branches were found in the Savanna of Ibiracatu, where only 30% of the trees were healthy
and without visible signs of attack by wood borers and by Phomopsis sp. We observed that C. brasiliense trees
in areas where the soils contained higher levels of summed chemical bases and total sand (fine + gross)
were less healthy. Moreover, the areas whose soils contained higher levels of aluminum and clay had a
higher percentage of healthy C. brasiliense trees and branches. Smaller percentages of live and healthy trees
and healthy branches were noted in areas with higher floristic diversity. Overall, the higher mortality of
C. brasiliense trees may be associated with a higher pH and a lower content of aluminum, silt and clay, with
competition with other tree species for nutrients, water and light, with the attack of Cossidae and
particularly with the attack of fungi, Phomopsis sp.
Keywords: pequi, canopy size, floristic diversity, Cossidae, Phomopsis sp.
Mortalidade de Caryocar brasiliense no norte do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil
RESUMO. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a percentagem de árvores sadias, vivas, galhos sadios e
taxa natural de regeneração (propagação natural) de Caryocar brasiliense, associando com propriedades do
solo, diversidade florística e tamanho de copa desta planta. As menores percentagens de árvores vivas de
C. brasiliense e de galhos sadios foram observadas no cerrado de Ibiracatu, onde somente 30% destas estavam
saudáveis, sem sinais visíveis de ataque do broqueador de tronco (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) e do fungo
Phomopsis sp. As árvores de C. brasiliense localizadas em áreas cujos solos continham maiores níveis de soma
de bases e areia total (fina + grossa) estavam menos saudáveis. Além disso, as áreas cujos solos continham
maiores níveis de alumínio e de argila apresentaram maiores percentagens de árvores de C. brasiliense sadias
e de galhos sadios. As menores percentagens de árvores vivas e sadias e com galhos vigorosos foram notados
em áreas com maior diversidade florística. A maior mortalidade de árvores de C. brasiliense pode estar
associado com maior pH e menor conteúdo de alumínio, de silte e argila, aliado com a competição com
outras espécies florestais por nutrientes, água e luz, associado com ataque de Cossidae e principalmente do
fungo Phomopsis sp.
Palavras-chave: pequi, tamanho de copa, diversidade florística, Cossidae, Phomopsis sp.
Introduction
The Savanna ecosystem occupies approximately
23% of the total area of Brazil and is high in plant
diversity. The Savanna plant Caryocar brasiliense has a
broad distribution in this ecosystem (ALMEIDA
et al., 1998). Its fruits are used as food, in the
production of cosmetics and lubricants and in the
pharmaceutical industry (ARAÚJO, 1995). These
fruits also represent the main source of income for
many communities. However, uncontrolled
harvesting has a strong effect on the propagation of
Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy
C. brasiliense. Approximately 8.0 and 11.0% of plants
up to 1.0 m in height (a relatively small percentage)
and 60.0 and 45.0% taller than 3.0 m (reproductive
phase) were observed in the Savanna and pasture
areas, respectively (LEITE et al., 2006).
This information indicates that fruit collectors
remove virtually all fruits from the tree. By doing so,
they significantly reduce the propagation of
C. brasiliense in the Savanna areas of Brazil (LEITE et
al., 2006). Although the Savanna areas have been
deforested, the C. brasiliense trees are left in the field.
This situation increases their mortality (personal
Maringá, v. 34, n. 2, p. 131-137, Apr.-June, 2012
132
Leite et al.
communication from collectors of C. brasiliense
fruits) and the chance that they will be attacked by
insects (LOPES et al., 2003; LEITE et al., 2007,
2009, 2011a, b, c and d).
Some studies have associated the mortality of
C. brasiliense trees with the attacks of wood borers
on the trunks (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) (LEITE et al.,
2011b) and of the fungus Phomopsis sp. on the
branches. However, we do not know the actual
levels of mortality of C. brasiliense trees or the
identity of other factors that may be involved in
this mortality.
Several factors, such as the size of the tree
canopy (FAN et al., 2008; ITO; KOBAYASHI,
1993; LEITE et al., 2011b; McCULLOUGH;
SIEGERT, 2007; ZANUNCIO et al., 2002), the
presence of environmental stresses (FREDERICKS;
JENKINS, 1998; HANKS et al., 1999; LEITE et al.,
2006, 2011b) and the floristic diversity (HEITZMAN,
2003; LEITE et al., 2011b) of the area, may directly or
indirectly affect the plants and their herbivores and
diseases.
The objective of this work was to study the
percentage of healthy trees, live trees and healthy
branches and the renewal (natural propagation) of
C. brasiliense associated with the properties of soil,
the floristic diversity and the canopy size of this
plant in six Savanna and pasture areas of northern
Minas Gerais State, Brazil.
Material and methods
This work was conducted in the Municipalities
of Montes Claros and Ibiracatu, northern Minas
Gerais State, Brazil, in October 2006. The study
investigated one area of Savanna vegetation sensu
stricto and three areas with pastures (prior Savanna)
in Montes Claros and one Savanna vegetation sensu
stricto and one pasture (prior Savanna) in Ibiracatu.
Both municipalities have a tropical climate (Aw,
Köppen classification) with a dry winter and a rainy
summer. These areas exhibit different characteristics
of soil and floristic diversity. The geographical
coordinates, altitude, soil type, physiochemical
characteristics of the soil, floristic density, crown
height and crown width were recorded in each of
the areas studied (Tables 1, 2, and 3).
The treatments used in the study consisted of the
six areas (two savannas and four pastures). The
experimental design was completely random and
used 32 repetitions (32 trees per area). A total of 192
C. brasiliense trees were evaluated. In each area
(~160 ha), we walked (~1600 m) in a straight line
through the middle of the area.
Randomly every 50 meters, we selected a
C. brasiliense tree and evaluated the following
characteristics: tree health (without trunk borer
attack, with live branches); whether the tree was
alive; branch health (not dry or with early symptoms
of fungal attack); the height and width of the
canopy; and the trunk diameter at breast height
(DBH) (by using a tape measure). We calculated the
percentage of healthy trees and live trees in each area
and the percentage of healthy branches per tree.
Every 300 meters along the survey line, we evaluated
the renewal (natural propagation) of C. brasiliense
and the floristic diversity in an area of 1000 m2 by
counting the number of trees groves-1 (> 2.0 m
high) and shrubs (0.50 – 2.0 m high). The number
of herbs (< 0.50 m high) and the percentage of
cover were measured by placing a square at each of
six points in each of the six 1000 m2 areas.
Table 1. Coordinates and the altitudes of the areas, percentages of living trees, healthy trees as a percentage of total trees, percentage of
healthy branches per tree, density ha-1, height and width (m) of the crown, diameter at breast height (cm), trees ha-1, soil covered per plant
(%), number of herbs (< 0.50 m high), shrubs (0.50 – 2.0 m high) and trees + groves-1 (> 2.0 m high) ha-1 in six areas of the
municipalities of Montes Claros and Ibiracatu, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Parameters evaluated
Longitude
Latitude
Altitude
Living trees (%)
Healthy trees (%)
Healthy branches (%)
Density of C. brasiliense ha-1
Height of the crown of C. brasiliense
Width of the crown of C. brasiliense
DBH of C. brasiliense
Soil covering (%)
Herbs
Shrubs
Trees + groves-1
Savanna
43º 55' 7.3" W
16º 44' 55.6"S
943 m
100.00 a
85.00 b
90.20 a
17.00 b
4.07 b
2.87 c
17.53 b
44.87 c
5.78 c
23.51 c
8.76 b
Montes Claros
Ibiracatu
Pasture 1
Pasture 2
Pasture 3
Savanna
Pasture
43º 57' 31.4" W
43º 53' 21.6" W 43º 53' 27.4" W 44º 09' 38.2" W 44º 10' 25.8" W
16º 46' 16.1"S
16º 53' 45.2"S 16º 53' 42.1"S 15º 42' 29.5"S 15º 41' 35.5"S
940m
999m
1009m
817m
806m
95.00 a
100.00 a
100.00 a
62.00 b
100.00 a
93.00 a
71.00 b
95.00 a
30.00 c
65.00 b
93.24 a
94.99 a
86.64 a
45.25 b
96.05 a
42.30 a
36.50 a
45.80 a
53.16 a
33.00 a
6.89 a
4.04 b
5.06 b
6.31 a
6.86 a
6.87 a
4.73 b
5.89 b
6.08 a
7.11 a
28.45 a
21.95 b
18.57 b
27.26 a
26.63 a
84.19 a
30.83 c
53.33 b
11.67 d
99.33 a
0.19 e
11.67 b
10.33 b
3.33 d
30.00 a
4.76 d
38.00 c
79.00 b
121.33 a
1.33 d
2.76 c
6.50 b
14.00 b
40.33 a
1.00 c
*Means followed by the same letter per line do not differ between them by the test of Scott-Knott at 5% probability.
Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy
Maringá, v. 34, n. 2, p. 131-137, Apr.-June, 2012
Mortality of Caryocar brasiliense
133
A total of 36 soil samples (0-20 cm deep) were
collected, with six samples per area. The physical
and chemical characteristics of the samples were
evaluated at the Laboratory of Soil Analysis of the
ICA/UFMG according to the methodology of
Embrapa (1997). The samples were collected
beneath the C. brasiliense canopies.
The data were examined with an analysis of
variance and regression analysis (p < 0.05) was
applied to relate the characteristics of the
C. brasiliense trees to soil attributes and floristic
diversity. The data were transformed using X + 0.5
and examined with an analysis of variance and ScottKnott test (p < 0.05).
Results and discussion
A relatively low proportion of living C. brasiliense
trees were found in the Savanna of Ibiracatu. Only
30% of these trees were healthy, showing no visible
signs of wood borer attack on their trunks
(Lepidoptera: Cossidae) or of Phomopsis sp. attack on
their branches (Fungi). The trees at these sites had a
lower percentage of healthy branches than the
percentage found for other areas (Table 1). 91% of
the C. brasiliense trees surveyed in the Ibiracatu
municipality, both in the Savanna and in the pasture,
showed symptoms of attack by Phomopsis sp. or had
branches with dry tips (data non showed). An
additional finding was that this fungus attacked 85%
of the C. brasiliense seedlings (data non showed). We
did not detect significant effects of the height or
width of the C. brasiliense canopy or of the DBH on
the percentages of healthy trees, live trees or healthy
branches/C. brasiliense tree (Table 2). However,
LEITE et al. (2011b) has observed higher numbers
of pupae and of sawdust produced by Cossidae in C.
brasiliense trees having a DBH of over 30 cm.
The C. brasiliense trees having a greater canopy
height and width, a greater DBH and a higher
frequency of plants in the larger floristic-diversity size
categories occurred in pasture 1 of Montes Claros and
in Savanna and pasture in Ibiracatu. Moreover, C.
brasiliense trees of smaller sizes and associated with
higher frequencies of plants in the smaller floristicdiversity size categories were located in the Savanna of
Montes Claros (Tables 1 and 2).
Table 2. The percentage of living trees, healthy trees as a percentage of total trees, percentage of healthy branches tree-1 and frequency
(%) of C. brasiliense trees per category in the six study areas of the Municipality of Montes Claros and Ibiracatu, State of Minas Gerais,
Brazil.
Living trees (%)*
Healthy trees (%)*
Healthy branches (%)*
Savanna (Montes Claros)
Pasture 1 (Montes Claros)
Pasture 2 (Montes Claros)
Pasture 3 (Montes Claros)
Savanna (Ibiracatu)
Pasture (Ibiracatu)
Living trees (%)*
Healthy trees (%)*
Healthy branches (%)*
Savanna (Montes Claros)
Pasture 1 (Montes Claros)
Pasture 2 (Montes Claros)
Pasture 3 (Montes Claros)
Savanna (Ibiracatu)
Pasture (Ibiracatu)
Living trees (%)*
Healthy trees (%)*
Healthy branches (%)*
Savanna (Montes Claros)
Pasture 1 (Montes Claros)
Pasture 2 (Montes Claros)
Pasture 3 (Montes Claros)
Savanna (Ibiracatu)
Pasture (Ibiracatu)
0.50 – 1.99
100.00
100.00
97.89
0.00
2.33
6.25
7.58
0.00
5.00
0.80 – 1.99
83.00
83.00
82.17
0.00
6.98
3.13
6.06
5.00
15.00
1.00 – 9.9
98.00
93.00
92.00
33.33
2.33
15.63
19.70
10.00
25.00
Category per height of the crown of Caryocar brasiliense (m)
2.00 – 2.99
3.00 – 4.99
5.00 – 6.99
7.00 – 8.99
95.00
92.00
95.00
100.00
85.00
74.00
82.00
83.00
85.08
80.24
87.58
91.18
Frequency of C. brasiliense trees
25.00
58.33
8.33
8.33
2.33
13.95
44.19
11.63
6.25
53.13
18.75
9.38
13.64
22.73
18.18
21.21
10.00
30.00
20.00
15.00
15.00
15.00
10.00
15.00
Category per width of the crown of Caryocar brasiliense (m)
2.00 – 4.99
5.00 – 6.99
7.00 – 8.99
9.0 – 10.99
91.00
95.00
100.00
97.00
80.00
76.00
83.00
85.00
78.37
85.68
94.79
88.77
Frequency of C. brasiliense trees
66.67
25.00
8.33
0.00
13.95
27.91
25.58
16.28
28.13
25.00
15.63
18.75
28.79
16.67
16.67
24.24
35.00
25.00
10.00
15.00
10.00
15.00
30.00
5.00
Category per diameter of the trunk at breast height of C. brasiliense (cm)
10.0 – 19.9
20.0 – 29.9
30.0 – 39.9
40.0 – 59.9
90.00
98.00
97.00
96.00
76.00
87.00
80.00
74.00
79.40
86.60
91.36
86.96
Frequency of C. brasiliense trees
50.00
0.00
0.00
8.33
13.95
27.91
27.91
23.26
34.38
6.25
15.63
18.75
31.82
30.30
13.64
19.70
30.00
30.00
10.00
10.00
5.00
25.00
35.00
5.00
> 9.00
95.00
84.00
88.35
0.00
25.58
6.25
16.67
25.00
40.00
> 11.00
100.00
84.00
92.58
0.00
9.30
9.38
7.58
10.00
25.00
> 60.0
100.00
71.00
96.88
8.33
2.33
9.38
0.00
10.00
5.00
Means followed by the same letter per line do not differ between them by the test of Scott-Knott at 5% probability. *Non significant by ANOVA (p > 0.05).
Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy
Maringá, v. 34, n. 2, p. 131-137, Apr.-June, 2012
134
Leite et al.
Table 3. Physical and chemical data from soil analyses for the study period in the six areas of the municipalities of Montes Claros and
Ibiracatu, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Parameters of the soil
pH in water
Phosphorus-Mehlich 1 (mg dm-3)
Phosphorus-remaining (mg L-1)
Potassium (mg dm-3)
Calcium (cmolc dm-3)
Magnesium (cmolc dm-3)
Aluminum (cmolc dm-3)
H + Al (cmolc dm-3)
Summ of bases (cmolc dm-3)
t (cmolc dm-3)**
m (%)**
T (cmolc dm-3)**
V (%)**
Organic matter (dag kg-1)
Gross sand (dag kg-1)***
Fine sand (dag kg-1)
Silt (dag kg-1)
Clay (dag kg-1)
Texture
Soil classification
Savanna
4.85c
0.80c
40.76a
28.25b
0.20b
0.10b
0.68b
5.19b
0.37c
1.05b
63.58a
5.56b
6.66d
1.11b
20.92d
53.92a
10.83b
14.33b
Sandy
Montes Claros
Pasture 1
Pasture 2
Pasture 3
Savanna
4.87c
5.40a
5.17b
5.50a
0.59c
1.33c
4.30a
1.00c
17.64d
28.30c
30.53c
35.17b
62.92a
7.33c
24.00b
17.00c
0.71a
0.47a
0.30b
0.40b
0.37a
0.23a
0.17b
0.23a
1.06a
0.59b
0.68b
0.38c
10.93a
2.93c
3.19c
2.00c
1.23a
0.72c
0.53c
0.68c
2.30a
1.31b
1.21b
1.06b
47.75b
52.67b
58.00a
36.67c
12.17a
3.65c
3.72c
2.68c
11.08d
17.33c
13.67c
25.33b
8.77a
2.33b
2.94b
2.20b
5.75e
26.27c
36.33b
32.67b
30.33c
57.73a
49.67a
54.67a
24.83a
7.33c
6.67c
7.33c
39.00a
8.67c
7.33c
5.33d
Loamier
Sandy
Sandy
Sandy
Dystrophic Red Yellow Latosol
Ibiracatu
Pasture
5.60a
2.63b
40.07a
26.33b
0.50a
0.30a
0.39c
1.96c
0.87b
1.26b
32.33c
2.82c
31.33a
2.46b
48.33a
40.33b
7.33c
4.00d
Sandy
*Means followed by the same small letter per line do not differ between them by the test of Scott-Knott at 1% probability. **t= capacity of cationic exchange, m= aluminum saturation
in the capacity of cationic exchange; T= cation exchange capacity at natural pH 7.0; V= percentage of soil base saturation of the capacity of cationic exchange a pH 7.0. ***Gross sand
(2 – 0.2 mm) (dag kg-1), Fine sand (0.2 – 0.02 mm) (dag kg-1), Silt (0.02 – 0.002 mm) (dag kg-1), Clay (< 0.002 mm) (dag kg-1).
The study areas showed a low rate of natural
regeneration of C. brasiliense (a low percentage of
seedlings). The study found that the percentages of
plants below 2.0 m and above 3.0 m in height
(reproductive phase) at the Montes Claros sites were
as follows: Savanna, 0.0 and 75.0%, respectively;
pasture 1, 2.3 and 95.4%, respectively; pasture 2, 6.3
and 87.5%, respectively; and pasture 3, 7.6 and
78.2%, respectively. The corresponding values for
Ibiracatu were 0.0 and 90.0%, respectively, in
Savanna and 5.0 and 80.0%, respectively, in pasture
(Table 2). A low rate of regeneration has also been
observed by LEITE et al. (2006) in other areas of
Montes Claros.
We observed that C. brasiliense trees in areas whose
soils contained higher total levels of bases (calcium +
magnesium + potassium) and total sand (fine + gross)
were less healthy. Moreover, the areas whose soils
contained higher levels of aluminum and clay had a
higher percentage of healthy C. brasiliense trees and
healthy branches (Figure 1). Higher values of the
summed bases and of aluminum and silt and clay and
lower values of fine and gross sand were observed in
pasture 1 in Montes Claros (Table 3).
Smaller percentages of living and healthy trees
and healthy branches were observed in areas with
higher floristic diversity (Figure 1). The lowest
density of C. brasiliense trees ha-1 was observed in the
Savanna in Montes Claros (Table 1). Higher
numbers of trees groves-1 of other species and
shrubs were noted in the Savanna in Ibiracatu.
A higher percentage of plant cover (less bare soil)
was found in pasture 1 in Montes Claros and in
pasture in Ibiracatu (Table 1).
Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy
C. brasiliense is a tree typical of the Brazilian
Savanna. The Savanna soils are generally deep and
loamy (providing an excellent storage capacity for
rainwater), poor in nutrients, rich in aluminum and
generally exhibit an acidic pH (SOUSA; LOBATO,
2004). These properties favor the development and
productivity of this species (LEITE et al., 2006). Of the
six areas studied, pasture 1 in Montes Claros was the
only area with clay soil, higher acidic pH and higher
aluminum content. Likely because of these
characteristics, it was also the area that had trees with
the greatest canopy height and width and the greatest
DBH as well as a high percentage of living and healthy
trees. In contrast, the Savanna in Ibiracatu has a
relatively sandy soil with a less acidic pH and lower
aluminum content. These characteristics make the
C. brasiliense trees more vulnerable to attack by the
trunk wood borer (LEITE et al., 2011b) and by the
fungus Phomopsis sp. LEITE et al. (2011b) has observed
higher numbers of cossid pupae and more sawdust
produced by Cossidae in C. brasiliense in soils that had
higher levels of potassium, calcium, magnesium,
summed bases, cationic exchange capacity and organic
matter and lower amounts of fine sand.
The Brazilian Savanna has been deforested for
grain and cattle production (AGUIAR; CAMARGO,
2004), besides reforestation with eucalyptus
(ZANUNCIO et al., 2002). However, the
C. brasiliense tree is protected by federal laws and is
left in deforested areas of the Brazilian Savanna
(LEITE et al., 2006). Farmers have left reserve forest
areas in which the soils exhibit poor physical
structure (more sandy or stony), as noted in areas of
Savanna in Ibiracatu and Montes Claros.
Maringá, v. 34, n. 2, p. 131-137, Apr.-June, 2012
Mortality of Caryocar brasiliense
135
2
80
60
100
40
80
60
40
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
0
10
2
80
60
40
50
30
35
80
60
40
20
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
5
1.1
10
15
Aluminum (cmolc dm-3)
2
100
25
2
ŷy=
3.82x --0.07x
0.07x22(R²
< 0.05)
= 44.01
44.01+3.82x
(R ==0.31;
0.31,p P<0.05)
2
2
= 43.40
43.40++2.15x
2.15x
- 0.02x
= 0.24,
ŷy=
- 0.02x
(R² (R
= 0.24;
p < P<0.05)
0.05)
80
60
40
100
80
60
40
20
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
0
100
10
Total sand (dag kg-1)
2
20
30
40
50
Clay (dag kg-1)
2
70.54++0.91x
0.91x
- 0.01x
(R0.71;
= 0.71,
P<0.05)
2
ŷy==70.54
- 0.01x
(R² =
p < 0.05)
100
Health trees (%)
100
20
Soil base saturation (%)
Health trees (%)
Health trees (%)
40
2
20
Health trees (%)
30
= 101.35
101.35- 1.60x
- 1.60x
= 0.38,
ŷy =
(R²(R
= 0.38;
p < P<0.05)
0.05)
100
Health trees (%)
Health trees (%)
2
y=-49.79+319.88x-175.06x
(R =
=0.73,
ŷ = 49.79 + 319.88x - 175.06x2 (R²
0.73; pP<0.05)
< 0.05)
100
20
Trees + groves-1
Shrubs
80
60
40
20
yŷ==70.90
+ 2.49x - 0.09x2 (R2 = 0.83, P<0.05)
70.90 + 2.49x - 0.09x2 (R² = 0.83; p < 0.05)
80
60
40
20
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
0
10
2
2
Health branches (%)
100
80
60
40
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
40
50
0.8
0.9
1.0
1.1
2
2
= 91.78
0.33x- 0.006x
- 0.006x
= 0.96,
P<0.05)
ŷy =
91.78 ++0.33x
(R² (R
= 0.96;
p < 0.05)
100
80
60
40
0
20
Aluminum (cmolc dm-3)
40
60
80
100
120
140
Shrubs
2
Health branches (%)
30
2
yŷ =
(R==0.30,
= 14.70+187.07x-107.30X
14.70 + 187.07x - 107.30x2 (R²
0.30; pP<0.05)
< 0.05)
0.3
20
Trees + groves-1
Shrubs
Health branches (%)
2
2
yŷ =
= 96.56
0.76x- 0.04x
- 0.04x
= 0.98,
P<0.05)
96.56 ++0.76x
(R²(R
= 0.98;
p < 0.05)
Living trees (%)
Living trees (%)
2
2
2
yŷ =
+ 0.47x
0.47x- -0.001x
0.001x
= 0.93,
= 94.79
94.79 +
(R²(R
= 0.93;
p <P<0.05)
0.05)
100
2
yŷ ==95.78
-0.33x
(R ==0.99;
0.99,p <
P<0.05)
95.78 +
0.33x --0.02x
0.02x2 (R²
0.05)
100
80
60
40
0
10
20
30
40
50
Trees + groves-1
Figure 1. Percentage of living Caryocar brasiliense trees relative to total C. brasiliense trees as a function of the densities of shrubs and trees
+ groves-1; the percentage of healthy C. brasiliense trees relative to total C. brasiliense trees as a function of aluminum, soil base saturation,
total sand (fine + gross), clay and densities of shrubs and trees + groves-1; and the percentage of healthy branches of C. brasiliense per C.
brasiliense tree as a function of soil aluminum levels and the densities of shrubs and trees + groves-1.
Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy
Maringá, v. 34, n. 2, p. 131-137, Apr.-June, 2012
136
These soils reduce the production and natural
regeneration of C. brasiliense (LEITE et al., 2006). In
pastures, the rate of natural regeneration (seedlings)
of C. brasiliense is also low. Although the soils
contain more clay, the seedlings of the tree are
constantly pruned by using hooks, are burned
during the cleaning of the pasture or are eaten by
cattle (LEITE et al., 2006). Moreover, in both the
pasture and the Savanna the fruit collectors remove
virtually all of the fruits of the C. brasiliense. Thus,
they reduce the natural propagation of this plant
considerably. These factors can result in a serious
risk of extinction for C. brasiliense (LEITE et al.,
2006).
C. brasiliense is a typical Savanna tree. Savanna
sensu stricto is characterized by the predominance of
the herb-shrub stratum and by the presence of a few
tree species (ALMEIDA et al., 1998). This pattern
may explain our observation that a higher percentage
of dead and diseased C. brasiliense trees was
associated with increased numbers of groves and
trees. The reason for this association may be
increased competition for nutrients, water and light
in areas where soils are sandier. Furthermore, the
more humid microclimate produced by vegetation
growing around the C. brasiliense trees may favor the
fungus Phomopsis sp. to a greater extent than the
microclimate of more open and sunny areas
(i.e., pasture). In addition, other trees can be natural
hosts of the fungus (e.g., Hancornia speciosa Gomez,
Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. All.) (ANJOS et al.,
2001) and can serve as a source of infection for other
plants.
However, areas with lower floristic diversity,
particularly areas that have few trees of other species,
may cause the attacks of Cossidae to be concentrated
on the trunks of C. brasiliense (LEITE et al., 2011b).
The damage to the trunk of C. brasiliense caused by
this insect can be serious and can lead to death
(LEITE et al., 2011b). Nevertheless, we do not
believe that this insect is the main source of the
mortality of C. brasiliense in the areas studied,
especially in the Savanna in Ibiracatu. However, this
area does show evidence of past insect attacks on C.
brasiliense trees. The area has a relatively high
incidence, among the areas studied, of hollow trunks
with damage by this insect (LEITE et al., 2011b).
However, we think that one of the major sources of
mortality of C. brasiliense is the fungus Phomopsis sp.,
which is the cause of a disease that kills the tips of
the branches of this plant (CARVALHO, 2007) and
attacks its leaves (ANJOS et al., 2001). This source
of mortality must be considered along with the
presence of very sandy soil and a greater competition
for nutrients, water and light with other trees.
Acta Scientiarum. Agronomy
Leite et al.
However, the biggest problem observed in this
study is not simply the mortality of C. brasiliense but
the fact that this mortality reflects the general idea
that the Savanna is a ‘patient’ that has been depleted
and degraded in the north of Minas Gerais State.
Conclusion
Caryocar brasiliense trees, in areas where the soils
contained higher levels of summed chemical bases
and total sand, are less healthy. Smaller percentages
of live and healthy trees and healthy branches are
noted in areas with higher floristic diversity. Overall,
the higher mortality of C. brasiliense trees may be
associated with a higher pH and a lower content of
aluminum, silt and clay, with competition with
other tree species for nutrients, water and light, with
the attack of Cossidae and particularly with the
attack of fungi, Phomopsis sp.
Acknowledgements
To the Brazilian agencies ‘Conselho Nacional de
Desenvolvimento
Científico
e
Tecnológico
(CNPq)’ ‘Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do
Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)’, ‘Prefeitura de
Ibiracatu e a EMATER de Ibiracatu’, the
‘Coordenação da Promotoria Pública de Justiça do
Rio São Francisco (Sub-Bacia do Rio Grande Verde)
and the ‘Instituto Grande Sertão’.
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Maringá, v. 34, n. 2, p. 131-137, Apr.-June, 2012